Groundnut oil maintained at Rs 435 per 10 kg. despite sluggish demand tight supplies helped prices to consolidate recent gains. In Rajkot it was steady at Rs 655 per 15 kg.

Imported palm oil edged down a rupee at Rs 340 per 10 kg exclusive of tax amidst restricted demand in the wake of subdued trend in the global market. January delivery was quoted at Rs 344 per 10 kg.

Castor oil jumped up by Rs 5 to Rs 392/406 per 10 kg as renewed overseas enquiries prompted fresh buying by shippers. Castorseed ready shot up by Rs 24 to Rs 1780/1786 per quintal in sympathy.

In the futures section castorseed March delivery lifted up by Rs 9 to Rs 1454 per quintal on flresh covering by bears following bullish upcountry advices, floor sources said. There was no trading reported in thematuring December delivery. In Ahmedabad February delivery shot up from Rs 1506 to Rs 1516.50 and in Rajkot it was placed at Rs 1514 from Rs 1505.50 per quintal.In Gujarat castorseed ready delivery finished firm at Rs 340 per 20 kg. Castor oil at Rs 380 per 10 kg. Fresh inflow of castorseed in the Gujarat region were placed at 20000/22000 bags, it was learnt.

Sugar easy

A easy condition was in evidence on the sugar market following slack demand. Sentiment was also slightly affected by the unofficial reports of an additional free sale release of 20,000 tonnes for UP and Bihar.

M-30 declined from Rs 1475-1545 to Rs 1465-1540 and S-30 from Rs 1467-1490 to Rs 1455-1485 a quintal ex-godown. Ex-octroi checkpost, M-30 were static at Rs 1470-1485 while S-30 eased marginally to Rs 1448-1465.

In tenders, a drop of Rs 5 was reported as M-30 were indicated at Rs 1425-1430 and S-30 at Rs 1405-1410 in Kolhapur line.

Bullion divergent

Divergent trend was witnessed on the bullion market here today.Gold reacted further while silver ruled firm following tight supplies.

Standard gold finished Rs 20 lower at Rs 4,280 per 10 gm. Absence of seasonal demand followed by weak global market attributed to the setback, dealers said. Prices of gold biscuit (116.50 gm.) dropped by Rs 300 at Rs 50,000 per piece. In the global market gold fell from $291.75 to $289/289.50 per ounce.

Silver .999 recovered by Rs 25 to Rs 7,425 per kg. In the ready section silver .916 bounced back by Rs 5 to Rs 7,325 per kg in sympathy. Industrial buying was dull but firm global advices and tight supplies prompted fresh speculative buying at lower level. In the global market the white metal placed higher from $4.94 to $4.97 per ounce.

Grains steady

A quietly steady trend prevailed on the grains market. Volume of business was limited.

Milling wheat were placed at Rs 785-791 a quintal. Wheat Saurashtra Lokvan were transacted at Rs 850-900 and SW at Rs 875-1000. MP 147 were traded at Rs 850-900 and Sarbati in the range of Rs900-1300. Rice AP Kattar ruled at Rs 1000-1100. Punjab Perimal were on offer at Rs 850-1000 while superior Perimal were in demand at Rs 1200-1300. Gujarat-17 were traded at Rs 1600-1750.

Among pulses, Kabuli gram A-2 were on offer at Rs 3000, B-2 at Rs 2700-2800, C-2 at Rs 2200-2300 and natural at Rs 2400-2500.

Cotton unchanged

Activity picked up noticeably in the Maharashtra goods on the cotton market. Prices held steady.

The mill interest was distincly active in Maharashtra federation cotton. The state monopoly agency has received fresh bids totalling around 1.5 lakh bales for the current season cotton, it was learnt. The total sales of the new crop materials as of now were to 4 lakh bales, according to the trade sources. The total procurement so far is estimated at around 6.5 lakh bales. The federation is also holding an old stock of around 6 lakh bales, it was gathered.

Meanwhile, prices depicted a fully steady trend. In Punjab zone, Bengal deshi roller-ginned were quoted in the range ofRs 1530-1585 a maund spot. In the case of J-34, saw-ginned good average fetched Rs 1700-1800 and cart selected Rs 1750-1950. J-34 roller-ginned were traded in the range of Rs 1600-1680. Arrivals of J-34 were up by 2000 bales at 12,000 while Bengal deshi inflow remained steady at 3000 bales.

Yarn listless

A listless condition prevailed on the yarn market following slack demand.Viscose filament yarn bright cones first quality Century Rayon 150dn ruled at Rs 217, 120dn at Rs 239, 100dn at Rs 248 and 75dn at Rs 263 a kg.

Nylon yarn Gunil 20/1/0dn were quoted at Rs 220, Nirlon at Rs 224, JCT at Rs 221 and Shreelon at Rs 230. Gujnil 30/1/0dn and 111/24/0dn were placed at Rs 290 and at Rs 157 respectively. 15/1/0dn Shreelon were on offer at Rs 240.